NORFOLK (WAVY/AP) —Jeremy Cox ran like a mad man against the minutemen. The sophomore running back rushed for a career-high 162 yards and two touchdowns, leading Old Dominion to a 36-16 victory over Massachusetts on Friday night.

The game was moved up from Saturday because of Hurricane Matthew.

The win means Old Dominion, still with six games left to play, is only two wins away from being bowl eligible for the first time in school history. “We talked a lot about the importance of this game, and getting this win before the bye week,” said head coach Bobby Wilder.

“To get to 4-2, three-game win streak, and to be 2-0 in (Conference USA) right now, that was one of the happiest locker rooms I’ve been in in a long time.”

Ray Lawry, who’s been hampered by an ankle injury the last few weeks, added 88 yards and a touchdown, the 30th of his career, tying Thomas DeMarco for the ODU career record for rushing touchdowns.

David Washington was 20 of 35 for 248 yards. He threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to Travis Fulgham in the first quarter, when the Monarchs (4-2) took a 10-0 lead.

Lawry’s score came late in the third quarter after UMass (1-5) had made it 22-16 on Andrew Ford’s 11-yard TD pass to Andy Isabella.

Cox added his second score in the fourth quarter and Ron Thompson and Shadow Williams had interceptions to seal the win.